Will Firefox in Ubuntu soon use Microsoft Bing as the default search engine? Some press releases / announcements are out that can be interpreted so.
July 2009 / Microsoft Press Release
Yahoo! and Microsoft announced an agreement that will improve the Web search experience for users and advertisers, and deliver sustained innovation to the industry. In simple terms, Microsoft will now power Yahoo! search while Yahoo! will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers.
January 2010 / Ubuntu Desktop Mailing List
Change #2 is changing the default search provider in Firefox to Yahoo!
Note that this won’t in any way effect the ability of a user to choose
and use the search provider of their choice. It’s literally 2 easily
discoverable clicks to change this setting, a simple matter of switching
to that search provider in the chrome by clicking on the icon and
choosing the desired provider. Note also that Yahoo! does not share any
personally identifiable or usage information.Why?
I am pursuing this change because Canonical has negotiated a revenue
sharing deal with Yahoo! and this revenue will help Canonical to provide
developers and resources to continue the open development of Ubuntu and
the Ubuntu Platform. This change will help provide these resources as
well as continuing to respect our user’s default search across Firefox.
February 2010 / Yahoo Press Release
Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) and Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) announced today that they have received clearance for their search agreement, without restrictions, from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission, and will now turn their attention to beginning the process of implementing the deal.
Implementation of the deal is expected to begin in the coming days and will involve transitioning Yahoo!’s algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft, with Yahoo! becoming the exclusive relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers globally. Once the transition is completed, the companies’ unified search marketplace will deliver improved innovation for consumers, better volume and efficiency for advertisers and better monetization opportunities for web publishers through a platform that contains a larger pool of search queries.
To me it looks like that 1+1 = Firefox of Ubuntu will soon be using Microsoft search engines and algorithms. If you know more about and are able to clarify, please add it to the comments. What do you think, would you be happy to use Bing search engine as your search engine or are you maybe already using? Better than Google?
Thanks Aapo for the tip!
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While this may seems quite counterintuitive to be in favor of Microsoft, I think we can benefit from a little bit of diversity. I would be of course more happy to see people talking of yacy or majestic12, some free software initiative to have decentralized search engines, but at least, using bing show there is something else than Google, even if this is Microsoft behind.
Eh, I think it’s a stupid move with nothing but a partnership with yahoo/cash grab behind it. Bing/Yahoo is well known for delivering poor results due to slow indexing (As in months late.) which kinda defeats the point since ‘recent’ results are typically more relevent.
I also think people know there are other search engines besides google, but they use google because (Novel concept here.) it works perfectly well for them!
I will be using only Google. MS tech should be dead not spread.
I don’t see what the big deal is. While I agree that google produces much better results Yahoo or Bing’s results are not horrible. Let people vote with their feet. We have much bigger things to worry about.
Actually, I’ve done some blind tests and couldn’t decide what search engine do I prefer. Yes, Google have “better” results for some queries but so do Yahoo and Bing.
The only reason I’m not going to use Yahoo Search is that their result page is too distracting in my opinion.
I’m not concerned; everyone in my family uses Chrome.
I don’t think it’s a good idea. Specifically, the (admittedly indirect) Microsoft element of the deal. They have actively demonstrated that they are not our friend even as recently as their attempt to sell patents last September in the hopes that they would be used against Linux.
But I’m more disappointed by the by the posts on the Ubuntu blog roll meant to mock people for being suspicious. I expect to see such things on the net, just not from Ubuntu.
Edd
It’s NOT even funny anymore! “Slick as ICE” Willie gHATES wants to and is succeeding in taking over ‘The World’!!! He’s Micro$oft STILL — DONT be FOOLED!!! The Google arguement is sooo INVALID and getting OLD, when M$ is getting Advertisements done by Google!! NOW it will be Yahoo! and other search engines allowed to be taken over “in the DARK!” Hmm…More Bill Gates “BRIBES”!? Gov’ts are (and have been) granting this “Access” and accepting Bill gHATES’ “Bribes” for a LARGE Cash Flow of MONEY!!! He’s been doing this for at least 30 years, while using “Confusion with Fear tactics” CONSTANTLY to make people think they are doing something ILLEGAL or Wrong!
Especially NOW (when in TRUTH its petty) — He’s the ACCUSER!!! How OFTEN Today does one hear “that petty bull more so”, as it relates to the Digital Millenium Act that Bill Gates CREATED and Implemented!? REMEMBER! “Man’s Laws are NOT God’s LAWS!!”
Its getting REALLY Serious NOW as it was predicted in the Bible that the Anti-Christ will be all over the earth creating a LARGE Cult of Followers!!! Could he be it? For example, more enemies as called by Gates previously, are going his way NOW…Linux and Amazon TODAY (tip of the ice-berg…He’s ready to take over Electronic Arts, plus M$ revealed Today they have been doing 600+ takeover attempts similar to what I’m describing…) are ready to give themselves to “Slick Willie” Gates and Micro$oft!!! SOON Everything you buy will go to Bill Gates’ pocket when he MONOPOLIZES THE WORLD!!! The SOLUTION IS TO PRAY-HARD to God AS ITS OUR “ONLY” DEFENSE and he and M$ CAN’T do it ALL Over-Night!! WE have time…to ask “Our Father”, God ‘Collectively’ to STOP Slick-Willie MONOPOLIZATION!!!
REMEMBER: Micro$oft Can’t EVER be Trusted, especially the man or evil Nemesis, Silly Billy!!! He’s taking over The World by storm!!! So! PLEASE, Start PRAYING HARD Saints and Follow Jesus, NOT Gates!!! Prayer is the ONLY thing we have left to fight with and Ultimately WIN!!!! :) God Bless!
@Edd – so according to your opinion there that it isn’t a good deal because of the Microsoft element, what about deals or partnerships with Dell, Amazon, IBM, Intel, and others that Canonical has? Are we not to partner or make deals with companies that have a deal or partnership with Microsoft? I think Dell and Ubuntu have been good for us, Amazon and the whole cloud computing thing has been good, Intel and Moblin seems to have been good. If we continue thinking like this, then all we are doing is putting ourselves in a shell and not advancing our cause whatsoever.
We could all be like Gods Warrior up there and live in a world of tin-foil hats and conspiracy. Sounds fun to me.
There are multiple issues here. Let’s separate out the political from the technical.
Technically, is Bing or Google really any different as a search service? Do they provide similar indexing coverage to the sites that matter to Ubuntu users and contributers? The forums, the wiki, launchpad bugs…. how does Bing do in comparison to Google in providing relevant search results? Someone should probably do a comprehensive analysis of that to see if Bing is actually a better search experience for Ubuntu relevant searches.
The current Yahoo search appears to be very bad when it comes to important Ubuntu searches. So from a default user experience standpoint it would be much better if Yahoo switched to Bing ahead of the Lucid launch date or else new users will have a markedly harder time doing simple web searches for Ubuntu resources with the current Yahoo search engine.
reference: http://j1m.net/2010/01/28/dear-yahoo/
-jef
Yahoo could still use its own large databases (nothing to be ashamed of there when compared to Bing, or even Google) even though they may switch to using Bing as the search engine. The search engine and the database used for Internet searches are not tied to together. Bing is certainly one of the most advanced general search engines, and MS has put lots of development work into developing it.
@nixternal. I’m not going to get into a long debate with you in some one else’s blog. But I will answer once. I am not like your strawman ‘Gods Warrior’. I’m not some blather wild eyed imbecil. I don’t trust Microsoft and I can document a clear and rational case as to why. You can’t debate it seems without insulting. I tried once on your blog. I don’t imagine I’ll try again.
Regarding Microsoft vs. ‘Dell, Amazon, IBM, Intel’. Microsoft has even recently gone out of its way to harm Linux. They do not appear to be changing their spots.
Regarding Yahoo using Bing vs. ‘Dell, Amazon, IBM, Intel’ using Microsoft products, Yahoo’s search engine will likely become Microsoft’s search engine. The means Ubuntu’s default search engine will be Microsoft’s search engine. I don’t think Linux should put that kind of trust in an avid and unscrupulous opponent. (Now you can start mocking me for stating that Microsoft is untrustworthy. History be damned. We dare not try to learn from the past.)
Regarding Ubuntu’s choice to become dependent on Microsoft technology (Bing, .Net, etc.) vs. ‘Dell, Amazon, IBM, Intel’ choice to use Microsoft technology, I expect better of Ubuntu and the Linux community at large. Several of the companies you like to point out in your rants are ok and even getting better in how they deal with the Open Source Community. I can cut them some slack. When the Linux community is being naive about Microsoft, I tend to feel I should say something, even if it means I’ll have someone like yourself making me looking like an adolescent lunatic like you did with your post today and like I’m kinda assume you did with the ‘God’s Warrior’ comment. Gee, thanks.
Risto, sorry to make a mess on your blog. I was hoping it wouldn’t have happened and certainly didn’t expect that ‘Gods Warrior’ stunt. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Edd
The Freetards will always bitch but this is a good move. Assuming the search results are good enough this is a good way for Canonical to reclaim resources it has freely provided the Ubuntu Community for years. Therefore securing similar resources for Ubuntu into the future.
I can’t imagine a Bing-algorithm-powered Yahoo could return *worse* results than Yahoo’s own algorithms do. You’d have to put in some effort to do that poorly.
I’ll stick to Google since it actually gives useful results.
Anyway, Google…Yahoo…Bing… none of them are “Free” network services, so it’s no loss of freedom. However it can mean forcing Microsoft to give money to Linux-types, which I just find funny.
@jef
Here’s something fun:
http://blindsearch.fejus.com/
Shhhhh – Don’t say anything – You don’t want to be labelled a extremist Stallmanite, right? (Seriously – I can’t believe the Ubuntu community is this blue-eyed…)
@Edd – first off, I wasn’t insinuating that you are an imbecile and I apologize if you feel that way. I just looked at my previous comment and I do not see how I could have given you the impression that I think you are “an adolescent lunatic.” As for the Gods Warrior thing, I wasn’t applying that to you either, I did that to show how the anti-Microsoft extremists are, nothing towards you at all on that, because I feel your concerns and points are definitely valid. I agree, this comment section isn’t the greatest area for debate, and I apologize if I have offended you on my blog, unless of course you deserved it. I don’t remember, and don’t feel like digging up the past. You seem very level headed in both of your comments, so there is no need for me to act like I am attacking.
See, a problem I have with the whole anti-Microsoft thing is this. For 15+ years our community has been anti-Microsoft. Sure, they have done evil things no doubt, and they should be shunned for those things. But can someone tell me, what good has being anti-Microsoft done for the community? If you have 2 nations who are sworn enemies and constantly at war with each other, and both nations deal with another nation, does that in fact make the 3rd nation evil or good?
@Edd, you asked if Microsoft is untrustworthy, and yes I think they are 95% of the time, the other 5% of the time, people like Ballmer and Gates don’t have their finger in that pie. As for the part about learning from the past, yeah I have learned from it. I have learned that Microsoft isn’t the most trustworthy company out there, and I have also learned that the open source and Linux world is no further today as it was in the past. Linux is darn close to being 20 years old, yet it doesn’t even have 5% of the market share. Sure, there are many things about the market share scenario. Sure, Microsoft has lost market share, but have we really gained? I know Apple has, but have we? I remember 10 years ago, Linux was like 1%, then a couple of years ago I saw 2% or maybe 3%. Rumor has it, it could be more like 5%. I should point out, this is in the desktop market, as we all pretty much know that Linux owns in the server and embedded markets. Linux is no closer to being so-called mainstream today than it was 10 years ago. Sure, maybe there could have been more “marketing” or “innovation” on our parts, but at the same time, we could have spent less time being so anti-Microsoft and spent more time trying to forge ahead.
@Edd, as far as the Linux community being naive, I can agree, but at the same time I can disagree with that. My personal opinion is that I think people aren’t being naive, but have gotten past the sworn enemy part and started looking beyond that. If we keep using Microsoft as an excuse or keep it as an enemy, how do we progress? I think the DBD and FSF campaigns prove that negativity or resentment for the past hasn’t gained them anything. Maybe 3 or 4 new members, but that’s about it.
@Edd, as for the part about Ubuntu becoming dependent on Microsoft technology, I don’t think that is true at all. Yahoo will start using Bing as its search engine, however you have the option to change this, so it isn’t dependent. If it were dependent, I think removing any further options would be in order. As for the .NET part, I don’t follow that much and won’t pretend like I do. I know there are a couple of apps that are mono based in Ubuntu, but once again you have the option to not use those, therefor removing any sort of dependency on Microsoft technology. You had etc. in there as well, as there was more than just mono and Yahoo, could you elaborate? I think Samba might be one working with Microsoft technology, but could you imagine if people couldn’t communicate with a Windows machine as easy as smb makes it?
@Edd, please don’t feel that I am bashing you at all, as I don’t want to come off that way, I do not think less of you, and I do respect your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. If you would like to enlighten me, or maybe somewhat debate ideas, you can always find me on IRC (nixternal) or email me at gmail (nixternal). Once again, I would like to apologize if you thought I was attacking or belittling you.
@andrewsomething – you rock, I have been playing with that search thing now for 15 minutes. Google and Bing are neck-and-neck. I was impressed with stack trace message searches I did and the results Bing returned. They were equivalent to Googles, damn near dead on. Though, I am still a Google fanboy at heart :)
This is really bad. Evil intents from a evil monopoly corporation.
They’re the enemies of freedom.
Canonical cannot be this desperate for some nickels from searches, can they?
Bingo [sic] just doesn’t deliver.
If someone thinks Microsoft won’t shaft us, linux users and users doing any search at all they don’t want the world to see, think again.
Decision engine my rear, it’s corruption engine.
I’ve also already tried, compared bingo, yahoo search, ask, even metasearches, but it’s always only Google which gives the results. And doesn’t require cookies to use btw.
Remember what that evil corporation has done and buried already. You really, really don’t want to help it bury freedom of choice and linux/unix along with it.
Forgot to mention, some good sources with critical attitude and inquiring minds towards all this..
groklaw (dot) net
boycottnovell (dot) com
Whoooooaaaaa all these comments! Tens of valid opinions, thank you, thank you, thank you!
It’s true that Canonical also has some deals with other companies (Dell etc..) but I think this is a bit different, MS being more or less the ‘Biggest Enemy’, known for not being very FLOSS-friendly and so on. Deals with companies are not bad and I can’t say this is a bad deal either, but it for sure is interesting one :)
@nixternal @edd, feel free to continue discussion here, not hurting anyone (if not you :)
@andrewsomething – this is nice:
http://blindsearch.fejus.com/
Some searches I did and engine I chose:
kde -> bing
launchpad 153855 -> yahoo
my name -> yahoo
linus torvalds -> google
kphotoalbum -> yahoo
smile linux -> yahoo
Ubuntu suomi -> yahoo
Interesting.
@Risto – woohoo, KDE :) I did tests with messages from a few stack traces. Yahoo didn’t find many of the messages if any at all, but Bing and Google did. Bing and Google were neck-and-neck there, and actually in quite a few cases, Bing had a better top result. If you Yahoo ‘nixternal’, the first 2 links are for nexternal :/ Where I think Bing excels though right now, searching for images. Their results page is by far the best. Another thing I noticed when playing with Bing, is that after the earthquake in Haiti, they had their map updated with the current satellite images. Google didn’t have theirs updated for almost 2 weeks.
I don’t agree with their move, Google is simply better, has more accuracy.
thanks for the information buddy.. it really looks good for most ppl, being BING the default Search Engine for Ubuntu in Firefox..!
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I use Bing and Google whenever i want to find something on the internet. I think that both search engines are very good. “
It is interesting to compare the performance of Bing and Google search but i haven’t seen any difference at all in their performance. .”
i still frequently use Google despite the appearance and popularity of the Bing search engine”:’
i would have to say that Google is slightly better than Bing search engine-*’
well, you can never get wrong wether you use Bing or Google, they are both very good search engines ~